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PHOTOS: Pols who evolved on gay marriage

“I talked to Rob and encouraged him,” Kasich told the station when asked about Sen. Rob Portman’s endorsement of gay marriage. “If people want to have civil unions and have some way to transfer their resources, I’m for that. I don’t support gay marriage.”

But a spokesman for the governor told the paper on Thursday that Kasich didn’t mean civil unions when he said civil unions.

“While he may have used the term ‘civil union’ loosely in this instance, he recognizes the existing rights of Ohioans to enter into private contracts to manage their personal property and health care issues,” Rob Nichols said. “The governor’s position is unchanged. He opposes gay marriage and opposes changing Ohio’s constitution to allow for civil unions.”

Kasich is the second high-profile Ohio Republican to decline to join Portman in endorsing gay marriage. House Speaker John Boehner said earlier this week he continues to oppose gay marriage, and “can’t imagine” his position ever changing.